Pneumatic penetration recorder



Oct. 26, 1965 R. L. VAN WINKLE ErAL 3,214,762

PNEUMATI C PENETRATION RECORDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1962 r lllllllllllllllllllllllll N mmQEOUmm MFOEME INVENTORS Roy L. Van Wink/e d2 ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1965 R. 1.. VAN WINKLE ETAL 3,214,762

PNEUMATI C PENETRATION RECORDER Filed Sept. 13, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Roy L. Van Wink/e c? 3 W/Y/Ibm Z. Lank/brafdr.

ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1965 Filed Sept. 13, 1962 R. L. VAN WINKLE ETAL PNEUMATIC PENETRATION RECORDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1965 R. VAN WlNKLE ETAL 3,21

PNEUMATIC PENETRATION RECORDER Filed Sept. 13, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Roy L. Van W/nk/e & W/'///'am L. Lankforddn A TTOANEY Oct. 26, 1965 R. L. VAN WINKLE ETAL 3,214,762

PNEUMATIC PENETRATION RECORDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 13, 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,214,762 PNEUMATIC PENETRATION RECORDER Roy L. Van Winkle, Edmond, and William L. Lankford, Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla., assignors to The Geolograph Company, Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma Filed Sept. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 223,358 9 Claims. '(Cl. 34633) This invention relates to an apparatus designed for the recording of various pertinent data relative to a drilling operation. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a pneumatic device or system which is capable of providing recorded information at a locus removed from the site of the drilling rig.

In US. Patent No. 2,883,256, a stylus is provided for recording a penetration trace on a chart which is movable at a uniform rate relative to the stylus. During the drilling operation, the stylus will be deflected horizontally across the chart from a given reference line (vertical) and immediately back again to this reference line each time that the drill bit penetrates one foot into the earth. Also, for each alternate foot means are provided for varying the amount of the horizontal deflection. Thus, the re sulting penetration trace will appear essentially as a vertical reference line having a plurality of horizontal lines projecting outwardly therefrom and to one side thereof. The distance (measured along the vertical line) between any given horizontal line and the next succeeding horizontal line represents the time required to drill the intervening foot. Therefore, assuming that the proper weight is on the drill bit, etc., when the horizontal lines are spaced relatively far apart, one can readily perceive that the drilling is occurring at a relatively slow rate. On the other hand, when the horizontal lines are spaced close together, one can see that the drilling operation is proceeding at a relatively fast rate.

In US. Patent No. 3,010,777, there is provided a recording apparatus which is similar in some respects to that of the aforementioned patent. For example, the structure of Patent No. 3,010,777 permits the deflection of a stylus horizontally for each foot of penetration substantially in the manner described above; however, the later patent also includes additional structure such that the horizontal deflection of this stylus can be caused to occur only for every fifth foot of penetration so that, under conditions of extremely fast drilling, a more readable and more useful record can be produced.

Recorders of the type described in the aforementioned patents and in other patents are generally located on or at the structure of the drilling rig itself. The present invention, on the other hand, includes a recorder which can operate as a servo and which is capable of producing substantially the same recorded information outlined above at a location somewhat remote from the drillmg rig.

With the above in mind, it should now be pointed out briefly that the present invention includes two basic components: first, the recorder itself, which is pneumatically operated and located at a point which may be remote with respect to the drilling rig; and secondly, a transmitter which provides pneumatic signals for controlling the recorder and which is located on or at the drilling rig. The transmitter may be built into a recorder of the type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,010,777 and, if the recording structure of the aforementioned patent is otherwise left intact, then the recorder of the present invention will serve as an auxiliary recorder. If desired, a recorder of the type disclosed in Patent No. 3,010,777 can be stripped down by removing the styli and recording drum and associated elements such that the remaining structure will serve solely as a transmitter for 3,214,762 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 "ice the recorder of the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to construct a transmitter per se embodying some of the operational features of the recorder shown in Patent No. 3,010,777. At any event, the transmitter is connected to the remote recorder of the present invention by means of various conduits through which the pneumatic signals are transmitted as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic recorder of the type described above which can be operated at a point remote from the drilling rig.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with the detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of the present invention showing both the transmitting and recording portions thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the internal components of the pneumatic recorder per se;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a rear view (from the left hand side of FIGURE 2) of the structure shown in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic representation similar to FIGURE 1 showing another embodiment of the present invention wherein the principal modifications exist in the transmitting portion of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 shows a transmitter generally designated by the reference character 1 and capable of producing pneumatic signals in response to one foot increments of drilling penetration, and a remote recorder generally designated by the reference character 2 which operates in response to the information provided by the transmitter 1.

The remote recorder 2 has mounted therein a pen (not shown) which is supported on the end of a pivotal arm 3 and which is adapted to describe a series of substantially horizontal marks upon a chart (not shown) mounted on the surface of a rotatable drum (not shown) in a manner similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned patents. Referring now particularly to FIGURES 2 to 4, inclusive, the pen arm 3 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the upper end 5 of a bell crank 4 by means of a pivot pin 6. The lower end 7 of the bell crank 4 is pivotally mounted on the stub shaft 8.

The arm 3 is channel-shaped and fits over the upper end 5 of the bell crank 4 such that the flat side portion 10 of the arm 3 will rest against the side edge of the bell crank so as to prevent clockwise movement of the arm 3 relative to the bell crank from the position shown in FIGURE 3. This mounting of the arm is similar to that shown in FIGURES 8 and 14 of US. Patent No. 2,980,486. The lower end 12 of the arm 3 is bent outwardly and away from the bell crank 4 as best shown in FIGURE 2. An inclined flat 14, bent at right angles to the lower end 12, is provided for a purpose which will more fully appear hereinafter.

A pin 16 is provided on the lower end of the arm 3 and a spring 18 extends between this pin and an eye 20- attached to the bell crank 4 so as to urge the arm 3 in a clockwise direction around the pin 6 relative to the bell crank 4. Another and elongated eye 22 extends upwardly from a cross-member 24 forming a part of the supporting frame 26 for the elements shown in FIGURES 2 to 4, inclusive. A second spring 28 extends from eye 22 to eye 20 so as to urge the bell crank 4 in a counter-clockwise direction around the stub shaft 8. However, as will hereinafter appear, a stop means is provided to prevent or limit this counter-clockwise movement of the bell crank.

A shaft is supported from the frame 26. A cylinder 32 having two Hats 34 and 36 on opposite sides thereof is keyed to the shaft 30. An extension 38 is provided for the bell crank 4 and an adjustable screw 40 having a spring 42 received thereon threadedly engages a suitable threaded hole (not shown) in the extension 38 in such a manner that the lower end of this screw bears against the cylinder 32. The screw 40 and the cylinder 32 thus constitute the stop means referred to above which prevents counterclockwise movement of the bell crank 4.

A pneumatic cylinder 44, hereinafter referred to as the footage cylinder is suitably mounted in the cross-member 24. This cylinder has slidably mounted herein a piston (not shown) to which is connected the outwardly extending piston rod 46. Pneumatic pressure is applied to the lower end of the cylinder through the conduit 48 in a manner to be described hereinafter in greater detail. Briefly stated, however, pneumatic pulses are transmitted through the conduit 48 and to the cylinder 44 in timed relation with the completion of given increments of drilling whereby the pneumatic cylinder is energized causing the piston rod 46 to move upwardly such that its upper end contacts the bell crank 4; this action of the ipston rod 46 against the lower surface of the bell crank 4 will cause the bell crank and the pen arm 3 to pivot as a unit in a clockwise direction about the stub shaft 8 (with particular reference to FIGURE 3). The pneumatic pulse through the conduit 48 will be of short duration such that the arm 3 will move first in a clockwise direction and then will immediately thereafter be returned to the position shown in FIGURE 3 under the action of the spring 28.

Another pneumatic cylinder 50, hereinafter referred to as the down-time cylinder, is also suitably mounted in the cross-member 24. The downtime cylinder has mounted therein a slidable piston (not shown) to which is attached the outwardly extending piston rod 52. A conduit 54 connects with the lower end of the downtime cylinder for the purposes of supplying a pneumatic signal to this cylinder in a manner later to be described in greater detail. Briefly stated, however, when pneumatic pressure is applied to the downtime cylinder 50 through the conduit 54, the piston rod 52 will move upwardly so as to contact the flat 14, thereby causing the arm 3 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin 6 with respect to the bell crank 4.

The lowermost position of the pen arm 3 (except when the same is actuated by the downtime cylinder 50) occurs when the screw 40 is bearing against one of the flats 34 or 36 of the cylinder 32. The uppermost position is determined by a rotatable cam 56 and two adjustable screws 58 and 60. The rotatable cam 56 is keyed to a shaft 62 which is rotated in a manner later to be described. T he cam has a series of horizontal grooves 64 evenly spaced around the periphery of the cam. When the cam is in the position shown in FIGURE 3, the upper right hand end of the screw 58, the latter being suitably threaded through the bell crank 4, will contact the outer periphery of the cam 56 so as to limit the upward movement of the pen arm 3 under the action of the footage cylinder 44. When the cam 56 is moved to a position such that the upper end of the screw 58 can enter one of the grooves 64 of the cam, then the screw 60, which is suitably threaded in a cross bracket 66, will determine the upper limiting position of the pen arm 3.

Turning now to FIGURE 4, a pneumatic cylinder 68, hereinafter referred to as the long and short cylinder, is suitably mounted on the outside of the casing 26. This cylinder has mounted therein a suitable piston (not shown) to which is attached the outwardly extending piston rod 70. A conduit 72 connects with the lower end of the cylinder 68 and provides pneumatic pulses thereto in a manner later to be described. A ratchet 74 is mounted above the cylinder 68 and is keyed to the shaft 62 upon which, as previously described, is also keyed the cam 56. The ratchet 74 is provided with ten teeth and the cam 56 is provided with five grooves 64. Whenever the cylinder 68 is energized by a pneumatic pulse through the conduit 72, the piston 70 will engage one of the teeth of the ratchet 74 so as to turn the shaft 62 approximately one-tenth of a revolution. If for a given rotation of the ratchet 74, the round portion of the cam 56 is placed opposite the end of the screw 58, then the pen will describe a short line on the chart (not shown). On the next successive movement of the ratchet 74 by the cylinder 68, one of the grooves 64 will be placed opposite the end of the screw 58 such that the pen will be capable of making a long mark on the chart.

Also mounted adjacent the cylinder 68 is another pneumatic cylinder 76 which will be hereinafter referred to as the five-foot offset cylinder. This cylinder is suitably mounted on the frame 26 and is provided with an internally slidable piston (not shown) to which is attached the outwardly extending piston rod 78. Another ratchet 80 similar to the ratchet 74 is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 30 upon which is also keyed the cylinder 32 previously described. The cylinder 32 may also be referred to as the five-foot offset cam. The ratchet 89 is provided with ten teeth and the cam 32 is provided with two flats on opposite sides thereof. Therefore, for every fifth time that the ratchet is turned under the action of the five-foot offset cylinder 76, one of the flats 34 or 36 will present itself beneath the screw 40', thereby moving the reference point for the pen arm 3 somewhat in a counterclockwise direction with respect to what it would otherwise be if the screw 40 were resting on a rounded portion of the cam 32. This will produce a five-foot offset on the chart (not shown) in a manner similar to that described in the aforementioned patents. A conduit 82 connects with the lower end of the five-foot offset cylinder 76 and provides pneumatic signals thereto in a manner later to be described.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, the components diagrammatically illustrated therein will be described, and the op eration of the device will be further described in connection with FIGURES 2 to 4, inclusive. The transmitter 1 includes a cam 84 which is rotated in a substantially constant manner in timed relation with the drilling progress. This cam 84 is preferably driven in such a manner that it makes one complete revolution for each two feet of drilling. The reason for this is that the main shafts in the patents referred to above are so driven, such that the cam 84 can, if desired, be mounted on such a main shaft, in which case the present transmitter 1 will be one of the recorders of the aforementioned patents to which the necessary valves and control means are added to provide the transmitter of the present invention. It should be pointed out that the conventional drilling rig has a supply of air under pressure which is used for operating the various clutches, brakes, etc. associated with the motors and drives for the drilling equipment. This supply of air will be referred to as rig air.

Rig air passes through a suitable pressure control valve 86 through a conduit 88 to a cam actuated valve 90. The valve 90 has associated therewith an operating arm 92 which is adapted to be engaged by one or the other of two projecting cam elements 94 or 96 located on diametrically opposite sides of the cam 84. Thus, when the cam element 94 contacts the arm 92 so as to represent the completion of one foot of drilling, the valve 90 is opened, permitting air to travel through a conduit 98 to a quick-release valve 100. The quick-release valve is described in detail in copending application Serial No. 802,968. :Briefiy stated, however, the quick-release valve is one which, when the pressure on the inlet side decreases, will vent to the atmosphere. The pneumatic pulse produced by the valve 90 passes from the quickrelease valve 100 through conduits 102 and 104 in parallel.

Within the remote recorder 2, the conduit 102 connects with a normally open pilot valve 106 which, in turn,

connects with a conduit 108. The conduit 108 connects with the conduits 48 and 72 in parallel so as to actuate the footage cylinder 44 and the long and short cylinder 68 simultaneously.

Also from the quick-release valve 100, the pneumatic signal in the other line 104 passes into the remote recorder and connects with another quick-release valve 110, the other end of the last mentioned valve connecting with the pilot port 112 of the pilot valve 106. Conduit 104 also connects, within the recorder 2, with the conduit 82 for the five-foot offset cylinder 76. It might be mentioned here, that the ratchets 7 4 and 80 for the long and short cylinder 68 and the five-foot offset cylinder 76 are provided with pawls 69 and 71 pivot-ally mounted at their inner ends of the screw 73, the outer ends of these pawls being urged into engagement with their respective ratchets by means of the spring 75 to prevent the pawls from being turned accidentally, particularly in directions opposed to their normal rotary movement.

When the piston in the five-foot offset cylinder 76 reaches the end of its travel, pressure builds up within the conduit 82, this increased pressure being applied to the pilot port 112 of the normaly open pilot valve 106 causing the pilot valve to close. When the pilot valve 106 closes, the pressure in the air line 108 is vented to the atmosphere, allowing the footage cylinder 44 and the long and short cylinder 68 to return to their initial positions.

At this point, the air in the lines 102 and 104 remains trapped. Venting of these lines occurs when the valve 90 in the transmitter closes. The sequence is described briefly as follows: the valve 90 is such that it will vent to the atmosphere as soon as it closes, i.e., when element 94 or 96 passes beyond the actuating arm 92 so as to allow the latter to return to its initial position. When the valve 90 vents to the atmosphere, the quick-release valve 100 immediately opens and vents the lines 102 and 104 to the atmosphere. The release in pressure in the line 104 immediately thereafter causes the quick-release valve 110 to dump the pressure applied to the pilot port 112 of the normally open pilot valve 106, thereby returning the normally open pilot valve to its normaly open condition. This arrangement prevents oscillation of the normally open pilot valve 106 which might otherwise possibly cause multiple footage marks to be made, thereby giving a false recording of the penetration.

In recorders of the type described in the aforementioned patents, there is customarily provided a clutch which can be thrown from the in position to the out position when changing from drilling to non-drilling operations, respectively. In recorders of the type described in the aforementioned patents, when it is desired to interrupt the drilling operation to perform other functions of a non-drilling character, such as changing of the drill bit, adding sections of drill pipe, etc., the condition of the recorder is generally altered to the extent that the pen which was recording the drilling functions will no longer operate as such. This same pen, or if desired another pen, will then be in a position to record the nondrilling functions in a manner set forth in the aforementioned patents. With the above in mind, the transmitter 1 includes a valve 114 to which rig air is also supplied. This valve has an operating plunger 116 which will be depressed when the clutch referred to above is thrown to the out position. Any suitable cam, arm, etc., attached to the clutch mechanism referred to above can be employed for this purpose; alternatively, if it is desired to have a separate operating mechanism for the valve 114, it should be obvious that any suitable means can be provided for depressing the plunger 116 at the appropriate time. At any event, when the drilling apparatus is no longer performing a purely drilling function, the plunger 116 is depressed to actuate the valve 114 to cause the rig air to pass into a conduit 118 which passes into the remote recorder 2 connecting with the conduit 6 54 of the downtime cylinder 50. With reference now to FIGURE 3, actuation of the downtime cylinder 50 will cause the pen arm 3 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin 6 with respect to the bell crank 4, thereby producing a downtime offset on the chart (not shown).

Turning now to FIGURE 5, there is shown a transmitter 1' which differs from the transmitter 1 of FIG- URE 1 to the extent that additional components have been provided to make the recorder operate selectively as a one foot recorder or as a five foot recorder. The remote recorder 2 shown in FIGURE 5 is otherwise the same as that shown in FIGURE 1 and the same components that are illustrated in FIGURES 2 to 4, inclusive, are employed in this remote recorder 2. An additional cam 120 is provided in the transmitter 1. This cam can be attached to the shaft 417 described in Patent No. 3,010,777, or it can be attached to a shaft which is adapted to make one revolution for each five feet of drilling. The transmitter 1 also includes the cam 84, valve and associated structure, quick-release valve and line 104 leading to conduit 82 for the five-foot offset cylinder 76 and the quick-release valve 110. Also included in the transmitter 1' are the valve 114 and associated structure which connect by means of the conduit 118 to the conduit 54 for the downtime cylinder 50. An additional valve 122 having an operating arm 124 is provided similar to the valve 90 and its operating arm 02. The cam has a projecting cam element 126 which is adapted to engage the arm 124 after the completion of each fifth foot of drilling. The time sequence for the cam 120 should be so adjusted that the cam element 126 will contact the operating arm 124 in such a manner as to open the valve 122 prior to and during the opening of the valve 90 at that time when it is desired to provide an indication for a fifth foot of drilling. The rig air passes through the control valve 86 and into a conduit 128 which connects in parallel with the valve 122 and another valve 130 having an operating arm 132. A movable valve actuator 134 is adapted to engage the arm 132 of the valve 130 so as to hold the latter in an open position whenever it is desired to operate the device as a one foot marker.

With the valve 130 being held in the open position (when the device of FIGURE 5 is operating as a one foot marker), air passes from the valve 130 through the conduit 136 to a shuttle valve 138. The shuttle valve applies pressure to a pilot port 140 of a normally closed pilot valve 142 causing the same to be held open. With the pilot valve 142 being held open in the manner described above, pulses from the valve 90 will pass through the quick-release valve 100 into the line 104 and through the now open pilot valve 142 into the conduit 102. The transmitter 1' and the remote recorder 2 will operate under these circumstances in exactly the same manner as described above in reference to FIGURE 1, since the cam 120 and the valve 122 will have no effect upon the system.

Continuing with the description of FIGURE 5, when the valve actuator 134 is in the proper position such that the device is operating as a five foot marker, this actuator will be out of contact with the arm 132 such that the valve 130 will remain closed. Thereafter, when the cam 120 rotates, the valve 122 will be opened once for each five feet of penetration. When the valve 122 opens, pressure is applied to the shuttle valve 138 in such a manner as to open the normally closed pilot valve 142 permitting a pulse to pass into the line 102 once for each fifth foot, thereby energizing the footage cylinder 44 and the long and short cylinder 68 once each fifth foot, so as to describe a series of alternate long and short deflections on the chart (not shown). At the same time, the cam 84 is turning so as to actuate the valve 90 for each one foot. Pulses, therefore, pass through the line 104 once each foot so as to actuate the five-foot offset cylinder 76 once for each foot of penetration. This arrangement keeps the five-foot offset mark in proper synchronism.

The downtime clutching arrangement in FIGURE 5, including the valve LL14 which connects with the rig air and which connects through the conduit 118 to the remote recorder 2, is exactly the same as that described above in connection with FIGURE 1.

The time that the valve 90 remains :open will depend upon the rate of drilling. During slow drilling, the valve 90 will be held open for a considerably longer period of time than during extremely fast drilling. However, under conditions of extremely fast drilling, it is necessary to adjust the physical sizes and locations of the various parts so as to keep the valve Q open sufliciently long to permit the pressure to build up in the lines between the transnn'tter 11 or 1 and the remote recorder 2 to actuate the various pneumatic devices in the remote recorder 2. On the other hand, since the physical sizes and locations referred to above will remain essentially constant, the valve 90 will remain open for a longer period of time than required or desired for the actuation of the pneumatic devices in the remote recorder. Thus, in the absence of some means to curtail the effect of the prolonged open condition of the valve 90, a square wave would otherwise be produced by the movement of the pen arm 3. Therefore, to compensate for the aforementioned undesirable condition and to permit the remote recorder to reproduce m'ore faithfully the recording of the primary recorder (if any), the valves 1106 and 110 are provided to cut off the pressure to the pneumatic cylinders 44 and 68 after a predetermined period of time following the initiation of the pneumatic signal from the valve 90 irrespective of the duration of this pneumatic signal.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A recorder comprising a pen arm pivotally mounted therein, fluid responsive means mounted within said recorder for moving said arm intermittently away from a given reference position, means for intermittently transmitting fluid pressure to said fluid responsive means for intermittently energizing said liuid responsive means, and means for moving said arm back to said reference position subsequent to each energization of said fluid responsive means.

2. A recorder comprising a pen arm pivotally mounted therein, a stop mounted in said recorder, stop engaging means mounted on said arm, resilient means for urging said arm pivotally in such a direction as to cause said stop engaging means to engage said stop, fluid responsive means mounted within said recorder and movable when energized to pivot said arm against the action of said resilient means in a direction moving said stop engaging means away from said stop, said resilient means moving said arm thereafter in such a direction as to cause said stop engaging means to engage said stop again subsequent to the energization of said fluid responsive means, and means for intermittently transmitting fluid pressure to said fluid responsive means for intermittently energizing said fluid responsive means.

3. A recorder comprising a pen arm pivotally mounted therein, a stop mounted in said recorder, stop engaging means mounted on said arm, resilient means for urging said arm pivotally in such a direction as to cause said stop engaging means to engage said stop, pneumatic means mounted within said recorder and movable when energized to pivot said arm against the action of said resilient means in a direction moving said stop engaging means away from said stop, said resilient means moving said arm thereafter in such a direction as to cause said stop engaging means to engage said stop again subsequent to the energization of said pneumatic means, and means for intermittently transmitting pneumatic pressure to said pneumatic means for intermittently energizing said pneumatic means.

4. A recorder having a frame, a pen arm mounted for movement on said frame, a first pneumatic means mounted on said frame and having a portion enga-gea-ble with said arm such that when said first pneumatic means is energized said arm will be moved in a given direction, a second pneumatic means having a portion enga-gea-ble with said arm whereby when said second pneumatic means is energized said arm will be moved in a direction opposite from said given direction, a rotatable cam, means resiliently urging said arm against said cam whereby said cam provides a reference point from which said arm is moved by said first pneumatic means, said cam also having a recessed portion to provide a different reference point for said arm when said cam is rotated a predetermined amount, a third pneumatic means having a portion engageable with said cam for rotating said cam, a stroke limiting means disposed in the path of movement of said arm to provide alternate long and short strokes for said arm, a fourth pneumatic means for moving said stroke limiting means, a source of pneumatic pressure, a first control valve connected with said source of pneumatic pressure and through a first quick-release valve to said third pneumatic means and to a second quick-release valve, said first quick-release valve also connecting through a first normally closed pilot valve through a second normally open pilot valve to said first and said fourth pneumatic means in parallel, said second quickrelease valve being connected to a pilot port of said second normally open pilot valve whereby when the pressure builds up in said third pneumatic means said second pilot valve becomes closed, a second control valve connected to said source of pneumatic pressure and to a pilot port of said first pilot valve whereby when said second control valve is opened to supply pressure to the pilot port of said first pilot valve, said first pilot valve will open, a selector valve connected to said source of pneumatic pressure and to said pilot port of said pilot valve whereby when said selector valve is open said pilot valve will open, means responsive to successive given increments of drilling for actuating said first control valve intermittently, means responsive to successive multiple increments of drilling for actuating said second control valve intermittently, switch 'means responsive to a demand for single increment recording for holding said selector valve in a continuously open position whereby said first, third and fourth pneumatic means are operated in response to each increment of drilling, said control switch otherwise being out of engagement with said selector valve and said selector valve being continuously closed in response to a demand for multiple increment recording whereby only said third pneumatic means is energized in response to single increments of drilling and whereby said first and said fourth pneumatic means are energized only after each multiple of increments of drilling, and valve means interconnected between said source of pneumatic pressure and said second pneumatic means for energizing said second pneumatic means in response to the interruption of drilling operations.

5. In a recorder having a frame, a bell crank pivotally mounted in said frame, a first shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a cylindrical stop means having flats on opposed sides thereof keyed to said first shaft, a stop engaging extension on said bell crank, a first spring means interacting between said frame and said bell rank for urging said extension against said stop means, a pen arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said bell crank, a second spring means interacting between the lower end of said arm and said bell crank so as to urge said arm in a given rotary direction with respect to said bell crank, means on said arm engageable with a portion of said bell crank to prevent rotary movement of said arm with respect to said bell crank in said given rotary direction beyond a predetermined position, a first pneumatic means engageable with said bell crank for moving said bell crank and said arm as a unit against the action of said first spring means such that said extension moves away from said stop means, a second shaft mounted in said frame, a stroke limiting cylinder keyed to said shaft and having therein a series of uniformly and circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves, screw means mounted in said bell crank and having a projecting portion selectively engageable with the outer periphery and said grooves of said stroke limiting cylinder so as to provide alternate short and long strokes, respectively, of said pen arm, second pneumatic means engageable with the lower end of said arm for pivoting said arm relative to said bell crank in a rotary direction opposite to said given rotary direction, a first ratchet keyed to said first shaft, a second ratchet keyed to second shaft, pawls resiliently biased into engagement with said ratchets, a third pneumatic means mounted in said frame and engageable with said first ratchet so as to turn said cylindrical stop means, a fourth pneumatic means engageable with said second pawl so as to turn said stroke limiting cylinder, means responsive to a given increment of drilling penetration for actuating said first, third and fourth pneumatic means in unison, means responsive to the build up of pressure in said third pneumatic means for immediately de-energizing said first and said fourth pneumatic means, means responsive thereafter to the deenergizing of said first and said fourth pneumatic means for deenergizing said third pneumatic means, and means respositve to the interruption of drilling to energize said second pneumatic means.

6. A recording system for recording information at a point remote from a source of signals comprising a recorder located at the remote point, a stylus movably mounted on said recorder and intermittently movable away from and back to a given reference position, means responsive to each signal originating at said source for transmitting pneumatic pressure from the source to the recorder for actuating said recorder so as to move said stylus away from said given reference position, and means associated with the recorder for releasing the pneumatic pressure thereafter from said recorder irrespective of the duration of the signal whereby said stylus is returned to said reference position.

7. A recording system for recording information at a situs remote from a signal locus comprising a recorder located at said remote situs and having a pen arm pivotally mounted therein, fluid responsive means mounted within said recorder for moving said arm intermittently away from a given reference position, means responsive to the initiation of a signal originating at said signal locus for transmitting fluid pressure to said fluid responsive means for energizing the latter, and means mounted at said remote situs for releasing the fluid pressure from said fluid responsive means after the energization of the latter irrespective of the duration of said signal.

8. A recording system for recording information at a situs remote form a signal locus comprising a recorder located at said remote situs and having a pen arm pivotally mounted therein, a stop mounted in said recorder, stop engaging means mounted on said arm, resilient means for urging said arm pivotally in such a direction as to cause said stop engaging means to engage said stop, fluid responsive means mounted within said recorder and movable when energized to pivot said arm against the action of said resilient means in a direction moving said stop engaging means away from said stop, means responsive to the initiation of a signal originating at said signal locus for transmitting fluid pressure to said fluid responsive means for energizing the latter, and means mounted at said remote situs for releasing the fluid pressure from said fluid responsive means after the energization of the latter irrespective of the duration of said signal.

9. A recording system for recording information at a situs remote from a signal locus comprising a recorder located at said remote situs and having a pen arm pivotally mounted therein, a stop mounted in said recorder, stop engaging means mounted on said arm, resilient means for urging said arm pivotally in such a direction as to cause said stop engaging means to engage said stop, pneumatic means mounted within said recorder and movable when energized to pivot said arm against the action of said resilient means in a direction moving said stop engaging means away from said stop, means responsive to the initiation of a signal originating at said signal locus for transmitting pneumatic pressure to said pneumatic means for energizing the latter, and means mounted at said remote situs for releasing the pneumatic pressure from said pneumatic means after the energization of the latter irrespective of the duration of said signal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,579,352 12/51 White 73-23 2,618,155 11/52 Conner et a1. 73-316 2,696,111 12/54 Conner 73151 2,883,256 4/59 Nichols 346-49 2,980,486 4/ 61 Melton 346-33 2,981,102 4/61 Melton 73-151.5 3,010,777 11/61 Melton et al. 346-33 3,054,295 9/62 Burner 73--39 1 3,071,006 l/ 63 Hornfeck 73-432 3,076,966 2/ 63 Suter et al. 346-33 3,084,550 4/ 63 Bowditch 73-407 3,100,399 4/ 63 Robins 73-391 3,102,426 9/ 63 English 346--3 3 3,124,410 3/ 64 Melton et a1. 346-49 3,125,399 3/ 64 Melton 34633 3,129,997 4/ 64 Melton et a1. 346-33 LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Primary Examiner. LEO SMILOW, Examiner. 

1. A RECORDER COMPRISING A PEN ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREIN, FLUID RESPONSIVE MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID RECORDER FOR MOVING SAID ARM INTERMITTENTLY AWAY FROM A GIVEN REFERENCE POSITION, MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMITTING FLUID PRESSURE TO SAID FLUID RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ENERGIZING SAID FLUID RESPONSIVE MEANS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ARM BACK TO SAID REFERENCE POSITION SUBSEQUENT TO EACH ENERGIZATION OF SAID FLUID RESPONSIVE MEANS. 